Tallying device



Dec. 2, 1952 TAso 2,619,751

TALLYING DEVICE Filed Jan. 6, 1950 ym MW Patented Dec. 2, 1952 UNITED. STATES PATENT OFFICE TALLYIN G DEVICE Frank Distaso, Los Angeles, Calif.

Application January 6, 1950, Serial No. 137,116

10 Claims.

This invention relates to a tallying .device.

In keeping tally for various purposes it is desirable to provide a structure which is simple and inexpensive in its construction and may be easily operated. This is particularly true in connection with the raising of poultry. It is the practice to maintain an accurate tally and record of the productivity of hens so that when their productivity falls below a desired minimum they can be removed from the flock and prepared for the market. At the present time cages are used within which hens are individually confined. Associated with these cages are record sheets'or other tallying means upon which the egg laying performance of a hen is recorded. The recording is performed by one poultryman who removes the eggs from the nests, notes the breakage, and makes the record on the tally sheet associated with the cage. The usual procedure is for a second person to check the number of eggs gathered and the record for accuracy at various times. Tally sheets often become dusty and damaged by the elements and the markings thereon become faded or obliterated and it is the principal object of the present invention to provide a counter which is simple in construction and operation and with which individual cages may be permanently equipped, the counter visually indicating the tally without difficulty.

The present invention contemplates the provision of a counting wheel formed with a selected number of radially extending teeth or prongs carrying numerals or other indicia and which wheel may be conveniently struck from a piece of sheet metal and rotatably mounted upon a supporting plate in a manner to insure that one prong only extends .beyond the edge of the plate and therefore represents "the tally designated by the indicia upon the individual prong.

The invention is illustrated by way of example in the accompanying drawings in which:

Figure 1 is a View in elevation showing one form of the present invention.

Fig. 2 is a View .of the tally member and its application to a poultry cage.

Fig. 3 is an enlarged-view showing the construction of the tally disk.

Fig. 4 is a view in transversesection'as seen on the line 44 of Fig. 3 and shows the tally disk assembled-with a mounting plate.

Fig. 5 is an enlarged-view in elevation showing a variation of the tally disk structure and the manner in which a sequence of numbers greater than that carried by one tally diskmay becarried over onto a second tally disk.

Fig. 6 is a view in transverse section through the line 6+6 of Fig. 5 and shows the construction of the device illustrated in Fig. 5.

Referring more particularly to the drawings, it! indicates a tallying structure as embodying the present invention. This device includes a back plate H and a rotatable .disk l2 which may be mounted upon the back plate and rotated upon a pin or bolt I3. The form of the tally disk 12 as shown in Fig. 3 of the drawings is that ,of a flat disk having a plurality of gullets around its circumference to form outwardly extending teeth I 5. As here shown the disk is provided to tally up to the numeral 10. There is the possibility of confusion after a tally of ten is made and before a new sequence of tally numbers is started. In order to insure that the person making the count will not be confused the gap between the teeth 14 carrying the numerals 9 and 0 is of different shape from the gullets occurring between the other teeth. In Fig.3 this gap is indicated at [5 and is relatively flat as compared to V-shaped gullets l6 occurring between the other teeth [4. The disk [2 as shown in Fig. 4 of the drawing is made \vitha circular protrusion I! at its center and through which an opening [8 is formed to receive the pin or bolt I 3. This member passes through an opening IS in the back plate II and thus when the bolt or pin is tightened the protrusion H will afford tension to hold the disk [2 frictionally so that the disk will not'be accidentally moved. Attention is directed to the fact that the axis of the disk, as. determined :by the position of the bolt 13 on the back plate H, is placed so that a point of a tooth may extend beyond the edgeof the back plate H and will thus provide convenient means for rotating the disk and at the same time for indicating the amount of the tally.

Referring more particularly to Figs. 5 and 6 of the drawings a disk 12 and-a complementary disk 20 are mounted upon a pin or bolt 13. The disk !2 has the configuration previously shown in Fig. 3 of the drawings although in this construction the number 10 which appears in the space [5 of the disk [2 is eliminated. The disk 26 is formed with a uniformly spaced set of eleven teeth It carrying numerals 10 to 20 inclusive so that, when positioned as shown in Fig. 5, the tooth carrying the numeral 10 will extend upwardly in the space 15 and in the .rear of the disk i2.

t may be desirable to provide a card which 1s associated with the tally structure and upon which suitable indicia may be placed. In order to support such a card conveniently the back structure H as shown in Fig. 1 may be formed with an overturned flange 2i to receive the edges of the card.

The present invention may be used for any desired purpose of keeping score or tally but it has been particularly designed for use in poultry raising so that an accurate account may be kept of the number of eggs laid by a hen. It is desirable that this tally device be easily and quickly manipulated in View of the fact that eggs must be gathered from a large number of hens. These hens are enclosed in cages 22 as shown in Fig. 2 of the drawings. The cages usually have a molding strip 23 which extends along the top of the cage and also carries a feed trough 2d. The tally structure may be secured in a convenient manner to either one of the surfaces of these members and will thus be convenient for operation. When the tally device shown in Fig. 3 is operated the finger or thumb of a person may be moved along the upper edge of the back member I l to engage the protruding tooth IE and to rotate the disk l2 in a counterclockwise direction. This will progressively rotate the disk until the space It is at the upper edge of the back plate H. When this takes place the operator will be advised that a count of ten has been completed and will mark his records accordingly. The tallying may then be begun again.

The double disk device shown in Figs. 5 and 6 is adapted for tallying any number from one up to twenty. The starting position is with the tooth on disk l2 in top position with the 11 tooth on disk 20 directly therebehind. Thus it will be noted that the 10 tooth on disk 25 will be opposite the open space on the disk I2. In other words, the starting position is with disk I 2 rotated one-eleventh of a revolution anti-clockwise from the position it has in Fig. 5, and with disk 26 rotated in the same direction a little less than that, to place the teeth 11 to 20 inclusive of disk 2 directly behind the teeth 0 to 9 inclusive, respectively, of disk I2.

When tallying any number from one to ten with the double disk device, both upwardmost teeth of the two disks are simultaneously engaged by a finger moving leftward along the upper edge of back plate H. Each such engage-- ment rotates the two disks counter-clockwise through one-eleventh of a revolution. Ten such engagements brings the disks l2 and 25 approximately into the relation shown in Fig. 5 (excepting that the teeth of disk [2 are superimposed over corresponding teeth of disk 25).

To continue tallying, the disk 29 is now rotated separately from the disk i2, by successively engaging the uppermost tooth of disk 28 (starting with the tooth) and shifting this to the left by a finger sliding on the upper edge of plate ll, each such engagement imparting oneeleventh of a revolution counter-clockwise to disk at. Ten such engagements will result in the 20 tooth on disk 28 appearing opposite the space Id of disk 12 instead of the 10 tooth as shown in Fig. 5.

Such an appearance of this tooth will correctly indicate that the double disk device has been given twenty separate engagements with a finger sliding leftward along the upper edge of plate H as above described.

When it is desired to maintain some other record in addition to the tally indicated by rotating the disk i2 or 20 the structure such as shown in Fig. 1 may be used and a card may be inserted in spaces provided by the flanges 21' of the back member M.

It will thus be seen that the tallying device here disclosed is simple and inexpensive and that furthermore it may be easily and rapidly operated so that no mistake will be made in the tally.

While I have shown the preferred form of my invention as now known to me, it will be understood that various changes may be made in combination, construction and arrangement of parts by those skilled in the art, Without departing from the spirit of the invention as claimed.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

l. A tallying device including a back plate, a tally disk 'rotatably supported thereon, the perimeter of the disk being formed with a series of equally spaced teeth, which series does not completely surround said disk, whereby a gap appears between the endmost teeth of said series which is greater than the spacing of adjacent teeth within said series, the axis of said disk on said plate being positioned so that when any of said teeth is opposite a given edge of said plate it will extend beyond said edge, the spacing of adjacent teeth Within said series being such that when said disk is rotated by engaging said tooth extending beyond a given edge of said back plate by an object sliding along said edge, the tooth so engaged is wiped down flush with said edge, and the single next succeeding tooth of said series is caused to be extended outwardly alone beyond said edge so as to be engageable by said object to again turn said disk when said movement of said object along said edge is repeated, said disk being rotated a uniform distance by each of the engagements by said object with one of said teeth, the periphery of said disk and the extremities of the endmost teeth of said series being substantially flush with said plate edge when said gap is disposed opposite said edge, and indicating indicia carried on said disk adjacent the periphery thereof, said indicia corresponding to, in its circumferential location on said disk, and respectively identifying said gap and the individual teeth of said series, the actuation of said disk a given number of times, by successive engagements with said teeth by said object, being rendered manifest by the arrival of said gap opposite said edge, said indicia indicating after each partial rotation of said disk as aforesaid, the total number of said partial rotations imparted to said disk.

2. A combination as in claim 1 in which the back plate is provided with a forwardly and inwardly turned marginal flange'for holding a record card; and a record card resting within said flange and of such a height as to cover all but the uppermost one of the indicia on said disk, and permitting said indicia to successively come into view as said disk is rotated step by sted as aforesaid.

3. A tallying device including a back plate, a tally disk rotatably supported thereon, the perimeter of the disk being formed with a series of equally spaced teeth, which series does not completely surround said disk, whereby a gap appears between the endmost teeth of said series which is approximately twice the spacing of adjacent teeth within said series, the axis of said disk on said plate being positioned so that when any of said teeth is opposite a given edge of said plate it will extend beyond said edge, the periphery of said disk and the extremities of the endmost teeth of said series being substantially flush with said plate edge when said gap is disposed opposite said edge, number indicating indicia carried on said disk adjacent the periphery thereof, said indicia corresponding to, in its circumferential location on said disk, and numbering serially the individual teeth of said series beginning with zero for the first tooth of said series, said disk being rotatable step by step by successive engagement with the teeth of said series by an object sliding along said plate edge, a second tally disk rotatably supported on said back plate co-axially with said first disk and closely adjacent thereto, said second disk having a peripheral outline which is substantially like that of the first disk excepting that it has an additional tooth in place of the gap aforesaid in the periphery of said first disk, whereby said second disk is provided with a continuous series of equally spaced teeth about the periphery thereof, said two disks being rotatable conjointly when a tooth from each of said disks projects beyond said plate edge, said second disk being rotatable independently of said first disk by engaging a tooth of said second disk projecting beyond said plate edge when said gap of said first disk is disposed opposite said plate edge, and indicia provided on said second disk adjacent the teeth thereof, said indicia numbering said teeth serially beginning with the next whole number above the highest number of the indicia on said first disk.

4. A tallying device including a back plate, a tally disk rotatably supported thereon, the perimeter of the disk being formed with a series of equally spaced teeth, which series does not completely surround said disk, whereby a gap appears between the endmost teeth of said series which is greater than the spacing of adjacent teeth within said series, the axis of said disk on said plate being positioned so that when any of said teeth is opposite a given edge of said plate it will extend beyond said edge, the periphery of said disk and the extremities of the endmost teeth of said series being substantially flush with said plate edge when said gap is disposed opposite said edge, and number indicating indicia carried on said disk adjacent the periphery thereof, said indicia corresponding to, in its circumferential location on said disk, and numbering serially the individual teeth of said series beginning with zero for the first tooth of said series, said disk being rotatable step by step by successive engagement with the teeth of said series by an object sliding along said plate edge.

5. A tallying device including a back plate, a tally disk rotatably supported thereon, the perimeter of the disk being formed with a series of equally spaced teeth, which series does not completely surround said disk, whereby a gap appears between the endmost teeth of said series which isgreater than the spacing of adjacent teeth within said series, the axis of said disk on said plate being positioned so that when any of said teeth is opposite a given edge of said plate it will extend beyond said edge, the spacing of adjacent teeth within said series being such that when said disk is rotated by engaging said tooth extending beyond a given edge of said back plate by an object sliding along said edge, the tooth so engaged is wiped down flush with said edge, and the single next succeeding tooth of said series is caused to be extended outwardly alone beyond said edge so as to be engageable by said object to again turn said disk when said movement of said object along said edge is repeated, said disk being rotated a uniform distance by each of the engagements by said object with one of said teeth, the periphery of said disk being substantially fiush with said plate edge when said gap is disposed opposite said edge, the fact that said disk has been so actuated a number of times equal to the number of said teeth, being rendered manifest to the operator by the absence of a tooth extending beyond said plate edge when said gap comes opposite said edge.

6. A peripherally toothed tally disk adapted to be pivotally mounted on a back plate having an operating edge so that said disk may be rotated by successively engaging said teeth one at a time as they extend, individually, beyond said edge of said plate, by an object sliding along said edge, said diskincluding aseries of equally spaced teeth, which series does not completely surround said disk, whereby a gap appears between the endmost teeth of said series which is sufficiently greater than the spacing of adjacent teeth within said series, that actuation of said disk by engaging the final tooth in said series as aforesaid leaves said gap opposite said edge and fails to extend the initial tooth of said series beyond said edge, thereby rendering it manifest to the operator that said disk has been actuated a number of times equal to the number of said teeth.

7. A peripherally toothed tally disk adapted to be pivotally mounted on a back plate having an operating edge so that said disk may be rotated by successively engaging said teeth one at a time as they extend, individually, beyond said edge of said plate, by an object sliding along said edge, said disk including a series of equally spaced teeth, which series does not completely surround said disk, whereby a gap appears between the endmost teeth of said series which is sufficiently greater than the spacing of adjacent teeth within said series, that actuation of said disk by engaging the final tooth in said series as aforesaid leaves said gap opposite said edge and fails to extend the initial tooth of said series beyond said edge, thereby rendering it manifest to the operator that said disk has been actuated a number of times equal to the number of said teeth, and number indicating indicia carried on said disk adjacent the periphery thereof, said indicia corresponding to, in its circumferential location on said disk, and numbering serially the individual teeth of said series beginning with zero for the first tooth of said series.

8. A combination as in claim 7 in which another indicia is carried on said disk near the periphery thereof and opposite said gap which indicates a number equal to the number of said teeth.

9. A tallying device including a back plate having an operating edge; back and front tally disks; means for pivoting said tally disks on a common axis of rotation on said back plate, said disks being disposed close together and lying close to said plate; an endless series of uniformly spaced teeth formed in the periphery of said back disk, said teeth being so spaced and related to said edge as to successively extend beyond said edge so that when said back disk is rotated by engaging a tooth extending beyond said edge by an object sliding along said edge, the tooth so engaged is wiped down flush with said edge and the single next succeeding tooth of said series is caused to be extended outwardly alone beyond said edge so as to be engageable by said object to again turn said disk when said movement of said object along said edge is repeated, said back disk being rotated a uniform distance by each of the engagements by said object with one of said teeth; a series of teeth formed in the periphery of said front disk, the teeth of said series being one less in number than the teeth on said back disk but corresponding, with this exception, as to form and spacing with the teeth on said back disk, a gap thus being formed on the periphery of said front disk between the endmost teeth of the series of teeth provided thereon, said front disk being disposed in front of said back disk; indicia provided on the respective teeth of said front disk to number said teeth serially beginning with zero; and indicia provided on the teeth on said back disk so as to number said teeth serially beginning with the next higher number above the highest number appearing on a tooth on said front disk, the indicia numbering the teeth on said back disk being rendered visible when the gap on said front disk is disposed opposite said edge of said back plate, said two disks being actuated together by repeatedly sliding an object along said edge until the number of such actuations equals the number of teeth on said front disk, thereby bringing said gap opposite said edge so that no tooth of said front disk projects beyond said edge, movements of said object along said edge thereafter successively engaging teeth on said back disk alone, the total number of actuations of said front disk, and of said back disk, after the gap of said front disk has come opposite said edge, being indicated by the number preesnted to View at the conclusion of any given actuation of said back disk by said object as aforesaid, up to the point where said two disks have been actuated by said object a number of times equal to the total number of teeth on both said disks.

10. A combination as in claim 9 in which a front cover member is provided for covering the major portion of the indicia of said disks, said cover member being shaped and positioned to uncover exclusively the indicia identifying that one of the teeth of said disk which is disposed adjacent to and extends beyond said edge, and which indicia indicates the total number of actuations which have been accomplished by shifting said object along said edge.

FRANK DISTASO.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 354,789 Hix Dec. 21, 1886- 641,004 Fallansbee Jan. 9, 1900 949,152 Loyd Feb. 15, 1910 1,000,026 Lewis Aug. 8, 1911 1,124,100 Baker Jan. 5, 1915 1,960,363 Yearwood May 29, 1934 2,350,733 Drotning June 6, 1944 FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date 306,202 Great Britain Feb. 21, 1929 

